Chronicling Mitt’s Mendacity, Vol. XXXVII

Joe Conason watched the presidential candidates’ debate this week, and had a reaction I could relate to.

“ ‘It’s not easy to debate a liar,’ complained an email from one observer of the first presidential debate – and there was no question about which candidate he meant. Prevarication, falsification, fabrication are all familiar tactics that have been employed by Mitt Romney without much consequence to him ever since he entered public life,” Conason wrote.

Concerns along these lines were not uncommon yesterday. In fact, note David Gergen’s take from Wednesday night:

“I think [President Obana] was so surprised, he thought Romney was just flat-out lying,” Gergen said. And if the president was thinking that, he had good reason to.

Consider, for example, the 38th installment of my weekly series – easily the longest of 2012 – chronicling Mitt’s mendacity.

1. In reference to the unemployment rate, Romney said, “The reason it’s come down this year is primarily due to the fact that more and more people have just stopped looking for work.”

9. Romney argued, “Energy is critical, and the president pointed out correctly that production of oil and gas in the U.S. is up. But not due to his policies. In spite of his policies. Mr. President, all of the increase in natural gas and oil has happened on private land, not on government land.”

11. On taxes, Romney argued, “I will not reduce the share paid by high-income individuals. I – I know that you and your running mate keep saying that, and I know it’s a popular things to say with a lot of people, but it’s just not the case.”

15. Romney said on tax rates, “Mr. President, you’re absolutely right, which is that with regards to 97 percent of the businesses are not taxed at the 35 percent tax rate, they’re taxed at a lower rate. But those businesses that are in the last 3 percent of businesses happen to employ half – half – of all of the people who work in small business.”

16. Romney said, “[Y]our plan is to take the tax rate on successful small businesses from 35 percent to 40 percent. The National Federation of Independent Businesses has said that will cost 700,000 jobs.”

17. Romney said, “What things would I cut from spending? Well, first of all, I will eliminate all programs by this test – if they don’t pass it: Is the program so critical it’s worth borrowing money from China to pay for it? And if not, I’ll get rid of it.”

The implication here is that U.S. debt is financed by the Chinese, but this isn’t true – China only holds about 8% of the nation’s debt.

18. In reference to how he’d balance the budget, Romney said he’ll “get rid of” the Affordable Care Act.

This is incoherent and absurd. “Obamacare” cuts the deficit to the tune of about $109 billion over the next decade. It’s simply incoherent to say you’ll cut the deficit by eliminating a law, which would in turn increase the deficit. That’s like promising to put out a fire by using more kerosene.

19. Romney said, “The president said he’d cut the deficit in half. Unfortunately, he doubled it.”

Maybe Romney doesn’t know what “double” means. The deficit on Obama’s first day was $1.3 trillion. Last year, it was also $1.3 trillion. This year, it’s projected to be $1.1 trillion. When he says the president “more than doubled” the deficit, as he has many times, Romney’s lying.

20. Romney argued, “The president’s put in place as much public debt, almost as much debt held by the public as all prior presidents combined.”

24. On entitlements, Romney argued, “[N]either the president nor I are proposing any changes for any current retirees or near retirees, either to Social Security or Medicare. So if you’re 60 or around 60 or older, you don’t need to listen any further.”

That’s demonstrably wrong. Under Romney’s policy, the cost of prescription drug prices and preventive care for seniors would go up immediately – for current and future retirees. For that matter, since Romney’s plan hastens Medicare’s insolvency – soon – seniors should listen closely.

25. Defending his Medicare plan, Romney said the idea originated in part with Paul Ryan and Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), “who’s a co-author of the bill.”

26. In reference to Dodd-Frank, Romney said, “[I]t designates a number of banks as too big to fail, and they’re effectively guaranteed by the federal government. This is the biggest kiss that’s been given to New York banks I’ve ever seen. This is an enormous boon for them…. I wouldn’t designate five banks as too big to fail and give them a blank check.”

34. Romney, offering “proof” that the president’s agenda is “not working,” said, “23 million people are out of work.”

That’s not true. As of the time of the debate, there were 12.5 million Americans unemployed.

35. In reference to public support for green-energy companies, Romney argued, “These businesses, many of them have gone out of business. I think about half of them, of the ones have been invested in, they’ve gone out of business.”

45. At a campaign event in Wayne, Pennsylvania, Romney said the president is “planning on cutting our military by about a trillion dollars over the next decade.”

No, he’s not. Obama is planning to cut defense spending, on the recommendation of the Pentagon and the Joint Chiefs, by about $500 billion over the next decade. There are other cuts looming, but they were crafted by Romney’s party and endorsed by his own running mate.

46. At the same event, Romney argued, “[T]he president adds about a trillion dollars a year to the national debt.”

49. Romney went on to promise, “I’ve got a plan. I’ve got a plan to help free people pursue their dreams and get this economy going. And the good news is this: It’ll create 12 million jobs.”

Putting aside the pesky detail that Romney doesn’t actually have a specific jobs plan, the fact remains that if we do nothing, we’re on track to create 12 million new American jobs over the next four years anyway.

50. Romney added, “I want to take that big cloud off of the small business world that’s hanging over them. Three-quarters of them say they don’t want to hire more people because of this cloud and that cloud is Obamacare.”

Romney’s referring to a “survey” conducted by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce if its members. The claim, however, is a misleading joke – the Chamber, a pro-Republican lobbying institution heavily invested in helping Romney, put up an unscientific online survey. Treating this as a legitimate poll of businesses is fundamentally dishonest.